Boca Chica Beach
Brownsville, TX
The southernmost beach in Texas, where the Rio Grande meets the Gulf and the sand stretches on with almost nobody on it most days. It has become better known in recent years for the rocket launches visible from the shoreline, but locals still come mainly for the solitude.
Check for active launch closures before you drive out, since operations at the nearby launch site occasionally close the road and beach.
More Gulf Coast beaches
Siesta Key Beach
Siesta Key, FL · Gulf Coast
Fine quartz sand that stays cool underfoot even in summer, sloping gently into calm Gulf water, and consistently rated among the best family beaches in the country.
Clearwater Beach
Clearwater, FL · Gulf Coast
A lively Gulf-front strip with a fishing pier, a nightly sunset celebration at Pier 60, and calm, shallow water that makes it an easy family favorite.
Pensacola Beach
Pensacola Beach, FL · Gulf Coast
Sugar-white sand within the Gulf Islands National Seashore, with dunes protected from development and water clear enough for snorkeling near the jetties.